I had this old fiber glass greenhouse that i decided to turn into my chicken house instead of buying or building one (I mean free is always better right?). It has a screen door on the front and a window on the back to provide great ventilation, especially in the summer (I live in Oklahoma so on days it is 109*F outside it is probably double that inside), but i do plan on adding a greenhouse fan to suck out hot air to provide additional cooling. It is still a work in progress to perfect and complete, but here is what i have done so far:
1. All screen was replaced with wire to keep the predators out and the chickens in, since I literally watch a small bird fly through it with out any struggle due to being so old and dry rotted.
2. I very generously sprinkled the floor with diatomaceous earth due to a fire ant infestation, which after a few applications they disappeared and have not been back since.
3. Removed shelving leaving only the support bars and placing in a nest box made out of an old bed wooden bed framed. I have since divided the house into two parts due to my three roosters were overly harassing the hens who are not quit ready to breed as are the rooster. I have provided proper nesting and roosting in both parts of the house as well as a small door for the roosters to be able to enter/exit to the run as needed.
4. Fenced in a run to keep them all contained, yet separated, by using cheap electric fence post's and chicken wire, apprx. 4 - 5 ft tall. But i do plan on to construct a completely enclosed run (sides and top) using chicken wire and 2x4's since i have started noticing hawks circling above. I also placed a metal frame pergola in front of the run to use both as solid structure to attache the fencing too as well as a shady spot for sunny weather and a dry spot for rainy weather.
5. Before adding the chickens i water sealed everything that was wood to help it last longer. I have also found that it makes it easier to clean any poop off.
Here are pictures as of 01/02/2019. Sorry for the bad picture quality. I have a cheep temporary phone I am using since I left my good one in the rain, you guessed it, chilling with my chickens haha.
1. All screen was replaced with wire to keep the predators out and the chickens in, since I literally watch a small bird fly through it with out any struggle due to being so old and dry rotted.
2. I very generously sprinkled the floor with diatomaceous earth due to a fire ant infestation, which after a few applications they disappeared and have not been back since.
3. Removed shelving leaving only the support bars and placing in a nest box made out of an old bed wooden bed framed. I have since divided the house into two parts due to my three roosters were overly harassing the hens who are not quit ready to breed as are the rooster. I have provided proper nesting and roosting in both parts of the house as well as a small door for the roosters to be able to enter/exit to the run as needed.
4. Fenced in a run to keep them all contained, yet separated, by using cheap electric fence post's and chicken wire, apprx. 4 - 5 ft tall. But i do plan on to construct a completely enclosed run (sides and top) using chicken wire and 2x4's since i have started noticing hawks circling above. I also placed a metal frame pergola in front of the run to use both as solid structure to attache the fencing too as well as a shady spot for sunny weather and a dry spot for rainy weather.
5. Before adding the chickens i water sealed everything that was wood to help it last longer. I have also found that it makes it easier to clean any poop off.
Here are pictures as of 01/02/2019. Sorry for the bad picture quality. I have a cheep temporary phone I am using since I left my good one in the rain, you guessed it, chilling with my chickens haha.
I would suggest going with something other than chicken wire, just because it does not keep predators out - they can go right through it.